Reading Help Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson Ch.I-III
`
` "Dogger," said Mr. Dance, "you have a good horse; take `
` up this lad behind you." `
` `
` As soon as I was mounted, holding on to Dogger's belt, `
` the supervisor gave the word, and the party struck out `
` at a bouncing trot on the road to Dr. Livesey's house. `
` `
` `
` `
` 6 `
` `
` The Captain's Papers `
` `
` WE rode hard all the way till we drew up before Dr. `
` Livesey's door. The house was all dark to the front. `
` `
` Mr. Dance told me to jump down and knock, and Dogger `
` gave me a stirrup to descend by. The door was opened `
` almost at once by the maid. `
` `
` "Is Dr. Livesey in?" I asked. `
` `
` No, she said, he had come home in the afternoon but had gone `
` up to the hall to dine and pass the evening with the squire. `
` `
` "So there we go, boys," said Mr. Dance. `
` `
` This time, as the distance was short, I did not mount, `
` but ran with Dogger's stirrup-leather to the lodge `
` gates and up the long, leafless, moonlit avenue to `
` where the white line of the hall buildings looked on `
` either hand on great old gardens. Here Mr. Dance `
` dismounted, and taking me along with him, was admitted `
` at a word into the house. `
` `
` The servant led us down a matted passage and showed us `
` at the end into a great library, all lined with `
` bookcases and busts upon the top of them, where the `
` squire and Dr. Livesey sat, pipe in hand, on either `
` side of a bright fire. `
` `
` I had never seen the squire so near at hand. He was a `
` tall man, over six feet high, and broad in proportion, `
` and he had a bluff, rough-and-ready face, all roughened `
` and reddened and lined in his long travels. His `
` eyebrows were very black, and moved readily, and this `
` gave him a look of some temper, not bad, you would say, `
` but quick and high. `
` `
` "Come in, Mr. Dance," says he, very stately and condescending. `
` `
` "Good evening, Dance," says the doctor with a nod. `
` "And good evening to you, friend Jim. What good wind `
` brings you here?" `
` `
` The supervisor stood up straight and stiff and told his `
` story like a lesson; and you should have seen how the `
` two gentlemen leaned forward and looked at each other, `
` and forgot to smoke in their surprise and interest. `
` When they heard how my mother went back to the inn, Dr. `
` Livesey fairly slapped his thigh, and the squire cried `
` "Bravo!" and broke his long pipe against the grate. `
` Long before it was done, Mr. Trelawney (that, you will `
` remember, was the squire's name) had got up from his `
` seat and was striding about the room, and the doctor, `
` as if to hear the better, had taken off his powdered `
` wig and sat there looking very strange indeed with his `
` own close-cropped black poll. `
` `
` At last Mr. Dance finished the story. `
` `
` "Mr. Dance," said the squire, "you are a very noble `
` fellow. And as for riding down that black, atrocious `
` miscreant, I regard it as an act of virtue, sir, like `
` stamping on a cockroach. This lad Hawkins is a trump, `
` I perceive. Hawkins, will you ring that bell? Mr. `
` Dance must have some ale." `
` `
` "And so, Jim," said the doctor, "you have the thing `
` that they were after, have you?" `
` `
` "Here it is, sir," said I, and gave him the oilskin packet. `
` `
` The doctor looked it all over, as if his fingers were `
` itching to open it; but instead of doing that, he put `
` it quietly in the pocket of his coat. `
` `
` "Squire," said he, "when Dance has had his ale he must, `
` of course, be off on his Majesty's service; but I mean `
` to keep Jim Hawkins here to sleep at my house, and with `
` your permission, I propose we should have up the cold `
` pie and let him sup." `
` `
` "As you will, Livesey," said the squire; "Hawkins has `
` earned better than cold pie." `
` `
` So a big pigeon pie was brought in and put on a `
` sidetable, and I made a hearty supper, for I was as `
` hungry as a hawk, while Mr. Dance was further `
` complimented and at last dismissed. `
` `
` "And now, squire," said the doctor. `
` `
` "And now, Livesey," said the squire in the same breath. `
` `
` "One at a time, one at a time," laughed Dr. Livesey. `
` "You have heard of this Flint, I suppose?" `
` `
` "Heard of him!" cried the squire. "Heard of him, you `
` say! He was the bloodthirstiest buccaneer that sailed. `
` Blackbeard was a child to Flint. The Spaniards were so `
` prodigiously afraid of him that, I tell you, sir, I was `
` sometimes proud he was an Englishman. I've seen his `
` top-sails with these eyes, off Trinidad, and the `
` cowardly son of a rum-puncheon that I sailed with put `
` back--put back, sir, into Port of Spain." `
` `
` "Well, I've heard of him myself, in England," said the `
` doctor. "But the point is, had he money?" `
` `
` "Money!" cried the squire. "Have you heard the story? `
` What were these villains after but money? What do they `
` care for but money? For what would they risk their `
` rascal carcasses but money?" `
` `
` "That we shall soon know," replied the doctor. "But `
` you are so confoundedly hot-headed and exclamatory that `
` I cannot get a word in. What I want to know is this: `
` Supposing that I have here in my pocket some clue to `
` where Flint buried his treasure, will that treasure `
` amount to much?" `
` `
` "Amount, sir!" cried the squire. "It will amount to `
` this: If we have the clue you talk about, I fit out a `
` ship in Bristol dock, and take you and Hawkins here `
` along, and I'll have that treasure if I search a year." `
` `
` "Very well," said the doctor. "Now, then, if Jim is `
` agreeable, we'll open the packet"; and he laid it `
` before him on the table. `
` `
` The bundle was sewn together, and the doctor had to get `
` out his instrument case and cut the stitches with his `
` medical scissors. It contained two things--a book and `
` a sealed paper. `
` `
` "First of all we'll try the book," observed the doctor. `
` `
` The squire and I were both peering over his shoulder as `
` he opened it, for Dr. Livesey had kindly motioned me to `
` come round from the side-table, where I had been `
` eating, to enjoy the sport of the search. On the first `
` page there were only some scraps of writing, such as a `
` man with a pen in his hand might make for idleness or `
` practice. One was the same as the tattoo mark, "Billy `
` Bones his fancy"; then there was "Mr. W. Bones, mate," `
` "No more rum," "Off Palm Key he got itt," and some `
` other snatches, mostly single words and unintelligible. `
` I could not help wondering who it was that had "got `
` itt," and what "itt" was that he got. A knife in his `
` back as like as not. `
` `
` "Not much instruction there," said Dr. Livesey as he `
` passed on. `
` `
` The next ten or twelve pages were filled with a curious `
` series of entries. There was a date at one end of the `
` line and at the other a sum of money, as in common `
` account-books, but instead of explanatory writing, only `
` a varying number of crosses between the two. On the `
` 12th of June, 1745, for instance, a sum of seventy `
` pounds had plainly become due to someone, and there was `
` nothing but six crosses to explain the cause. In a few `
` cases, to be sure, the name of a place would be added, `
` as "Offe Caraccas," or a mere entry of latitude and `
` longitude, as "62o 17' 20", 19o 2' 40"." `
` `
` The record lasted over nearly twenty years, the amount `
` of the separate entries growing larger as time went on, `
` and at the end a grand total had been made out after `
` five or six wrong additions, and these words appended, `
` "Bones, his pile." `
` `
` "I can't make head or tail of this," said Dr. Livesey. `
` `
` "The thing is as clear as noonday," cried the squire. `
` "This is the black-hearted hound's account-book. These `
` crosses stand for the names of ships or towns that they `
` sank or plundered. The sums are the scoundrel's share, `
` and where he feared an ambiguity, you see he added `
` something clearer. 'Offe Caraccas,' now; you see, here `
` was some unhappy vessel boarded off that coast. God `
` help the poor souls that manned her--coral long ago." `
` `
` "Right!" said the doctor. "See what it is to be a `
` traveller. Right! And the amounts increase, you see, `
` as he rose in rank." `
` `
` There was little else in the volume but a few bearings `
` of places noted in the blank leaves towards the end and `
`
` "Dogger," said Mr. Dance, "you have a good horse; take `
` up this lad behind you." `
` `
` As soon as I was mounted, holding on to Dogger's belt, `
` the supervisor gave the word, and the party struck out `
` at a bouncing trot on the road to Dr. Livesey's house. `
` `
` `
` `
` 6 `
` `
` The Captain's Papers `
` `
` WE rode hard all the way till we drew up before Dr. `
` Livesey's door. The house was all dark to the front. `
` `
` Mr. Dance told me to jump down and knock, and Dogger `
` gave me a stirrup to descend by. The door was opened `
` almost at once by the maid. `
` `
` "Is Dr. Livesey in?" I asked. `
` `
` No, she said, he had come home in the afternoon but had gone `
` up to the hall to dine and pass the evening with the squire. `
` `
` "So there we go, boys," said Mr. Dance. `
` `
` This time, as the distance was short, I did not mount, `
` but ran with Dogger's stirrup-leather to the lodge `
` gates and up the long, leafless, moonlit avenue to `
` where the white line of the hall buildings looked on `
` either hand on great old gardens. Here Mr. Dance `
` dismounted, and taking me along with him, was admitted `
` at a word into the house. `
` `
` The servant led us down a matted passage and showed us `
` at the end into a great library, all lined with `
` bookcases and busts upon the top of them, where the `
` squire and Dr. Livesey sat, pipe in hand, on either `
` side of a bright fire. `
` `
` I had never seen the squire so near at hand. He was a `
` tall man, over six feet high, and broad in proportion, `
` and he had a bluff, rough-and-ready face, all roughened `
` and reddened and lined in his long travels. His `
` eyebrows were very black, and moved readily, and this `
` gave him a look of some temper, not bad, you would say, `
` but quick and high. `
` `
` "Come in, Mr. Dance," says he, very stately and condescending. `
` `
` "Good evening, Dance," says the doctor with a nod. `
` "And good evening to you, friend Jim. What good wind `
` brings you here?" `
` `
` The supervisor stood up straight and stiff and told his `
` story like a lesson; and you should have seen how the `
` two gentlemen leaned forward and looked at each other, `
` and forgot to smoke in their surprise and interest. `
` When they heard how my mother went back to the inn, Dr. `
` Livesey fairly slapped his thigh, and the squire cried `
` "Bravo!" and broke his long pipe against the grate. `
` Long before it was done, Mr. Trelawney (that, you will `
` remember, was the squire's name) had got up from his `
` seat and was striding about the room, and the doctor, `
` as if to hear the better, had taken off his powdered `
` wig and sat there looking very strange indeed with his `
` own close-cropped black poll. `
` `
` At last Mr. Dance finished the story. `
` `
` "Mr. Dance," said the squire, "you are a very noble `
` fellow. And as for riding down that black, atrocious `
` miscreant, I regard it as an act of virtue, sir, like `
` stamping on a cockroach. This lad Hawkins is a trump, `
` I perceive. Hawkins, will you ring that bell? Mr. `
` Dance must have some ale." `
` `
` "And so, Jim," said the doctor, "you have the thing `
` that they were after, have you?" `
` `
` "Here it is, sir," said I, and gave him the oilskin packet. `
` `
` The doctor looked it all over, as if his fingers were `
` itching to open it; but instead of doing that, he put `
` it quietly in the pocket of his coat. `
` `
` "Squire," said he, "when Dance has had his ale he must, `
` of course, be off on his Majesty's service; but I mean `
` to keep Jim Hawkins here to sleep at my house, and with `
` your permission, I propose we should have up the cold `
` pie and let him sup." `
` `
` "As you will, Livesey," said the squire; "Hawkins has `
` earned better than cold pie." `
` `
` So a big pigeon pie was brought in and put on a `
` sidetable, and I made a hearty supper, for I was as `
` hungry as a hawk, while Mr. Dance was further `
` complimented and at last dismissed. `
` `
` "And now, squire," said the doctor. `
` `
` "And now, Livesey," said the squire in the same breath. `
` `
` "One at a time, one at a time," laughed Dr. Livesey. `
` "You have heard of this Flint, I suppose?" `
` `
` "Heard of him!" cried the squire. "Heard of him, you `
` say! He was the bloodthirstiest buccaneer that sailed. `
` Blackbeard was a child to Flint. The Spaniards were so `
` prodigiously afraid of him that, I tell you, sir, I was `
` sometimes proud he was an Englishman. I've seen his `
` top-sails with these eyes, off Trinidad, and the `
` cowardly son of a rum-puncheon that I sailed with put `
` back--put back, sir, into Port of Spain." `
` `
` "Well, I've heard of him myself, in England," said the `
` doctor. "But the point is, had he money?" `
` `
` "Money!" cried the squire. "Have you heard the story? `
` What were these villains after but money? What do they `
` care for but money? For what would they risk their `
` rascal carcasses but money?" `
` `
` "That we shall soon know," replied the doctor. "But `
` you are so confoundedly hot-headed and exclamatory that `
` I cannot get a word in. What I want to know is this: `
` Supposing that I have here in my pocket some clue to `
` where Flint buried his treasure, will that treasure `
` amount to much?" `
` `
` "Amount, sir!" cried the squire. "It will amount to `
` this: If we have the clue you talk about, I fit out a `
` ship in Bristol dock, and take you and Hawkins here `
` along, and I'll have that treasure if I search a year." `
` `
` "Very well," said the doctor. "Now, then, if Jim is `
` agreeable, we'll open the packet"; and he laid it `
` before him on the table. `
` `
` The bundle was sewn together, and the doctor had to get `
` out his instrument case and cut the stitches with his `
` medical scissors. It contained two things--a book and `
` a sealed paper. `
` `
` "First of all we'll try the book," observed the doctor. `
` `
` The squire and I were both peering over his shoulder as `
` he opened it, for Dr. Livesey had kindly motioned me to `
` come round from the side-table, where I had been `
` eating, to enjoy the sport of the search. On the first `
` page there were only some scraps of writing, such as a `
` man with a pen in his hand might make for idleness or `
` practice. One was the same as the tattoo mark, "Billy `
` Bones his fancy"; then there was "Mr. W. Bones, mate," `
` "No more rum," "Off Palm Key he got itt," and some `
` other snatches, mostly single words and unintelligible. `
` I could not help wondering who it was that had "got `
` itt," and what "itt" was that he got. A knife in his `
` back as like as not. `
` `
` "Not much instruction there," said Dr. Livesey as he `
` passed on. `
` `
` The next ten or twelve pages were filled with a curious `
` series of entries. There was a date at one end of the `
` line and at the other a sum of money, as in common `
` account-books, but instead of explanatory writing, only `
` a varying number of crosses between the two. On the `
` 12th of June, 1745, for instance, a sum of seventy `
` pounds had plainly become due to someone, and there was `
` nothing but six crosses to explain the cause. In a few `
` cases, to be sure, the name of a place would be added, `
` as "Offe Caraccas," or a mere entry of latitude and `
` longitude, as "62o 17' 20", 19o 2' 40"." `
` `
` The record lasted over nearly twenty years, the amount `
` of the separate entries growing larger as time went on, `
` and at the end a grand total had been made out after `
` five or six wrong additions, and these words appended, `
` "Bones, his pile." `
` `
` "I can't make head or tail of this," said Dr. Livesey. `
` `
` "The thing is as clear as noonday," cried the squire. `
` "This is the black-hearted hound's account-book. These `
` crosses stand for the names of ships or towns that they `
` sank or plundered. The sums are the scoundrel's share, `
` and where he feared an ambiguity, you see he added `
` something clearer. 'Offe Caraccas,' now; you see, here `
` was some unhappy vessel boarded off that coast. God `
` help the poor souls that manned her--coral long ago." `
` `
` "Right!" said the doctor. "See what it is to be a `
` traveller. Right! And the amounts increase, you see, `
` as he rose in rank." `
` `
` There was little else in the volume but a few bearings `
` of places noted in the blank leaves towards the end and `
`